Ashlar's 280 + fuge + fish room

[The WuSue]

Wow! That's about 40 shades of awesome.....

[Ashlar]

So we got some of the stencils delivered this week, here are a few tests. Now, we don't have all the colors we need, so ignore that.

[micki]

Very cool!

[Ashlar]

I should be picking up the left set of cabinets Wednesday, as well as more stencils.

[Ashlar]

Think I'm going to wait til next payday to get those other cabinets.. bills to pay, lol.

In the meantime, here's a short animation of the steps of the build..

[Ashlar]

I did pick up some cheap countertops for the cabinets.. got the right one installed..

[Ashlar]

Today, I'm messing with wiring.

The microscopes on the counter are equipped with USB cameras, so that I can capture stills and video. They will be attached to a PC sitting in the lower cabinet, which also runs the display on the wall. In order to keep from having a mess of wires and having to put holes in the countertop, I'm going to run the wires in the wall.



I got the holes cut and the boxes installed as well as the electrical outlet ran. I ordered some USB keystone jacks (the local big box shop wanted $20 a piece, whereas amazon had them for $6).

After digging through my parts and cable bins, I need to pick up a long VGA cable for the monitor, as well as some USB extension cables.

[Ashlar]

My wife's weekend project turned out well. She took a standard vinyl roller shade and painted it with the same latex paint we used on the walls. It rolls up and down just fine without cracking or peeling.

[chromiumlux]

That is a neat idea with the blind. This is getting better and better.

[Ashlar]

That is a neat idea with the blind. This is getting better and better.

We figured it was a $7 experiment. If it looked like dog poo, or cracked, we could just get another shade.

[Ashlar]

My guy at the fish store called yesterday and said that my tank is ready. I'm going to see if the movers who moved us in will take it down the stairs. If *they* break it, their insurance kicks in. Should be a pretty straightforward proposition, once the railings come down.

Just to make absolutely sure it would fit, I modeled up the path it will have to take and slid the tank along that route.


Last night I also tested out some of my stencils over the blue / sand paint.

[Wall_Tank]

Looks like the tank move was planned out well.......but the model shows water in the tank, you might not want to do that

[Ashlar]

LOL, you caught that, eh? hehe

[Twizted1]

I think you are in the wrong biz. You should design & decorate fish rooms for a living. Everything looks awsome.

[Ashlar]

I think you are in the wrong biz. You should design & decorate fish rooms for a living. Everything looks awsome.

Thanks! Since we're taking it so slow, I've got a lot of time to plan and play.

[Ashlar]

I got the monitor mounted tonight. I still need to get a long VGA cable for it.

[Twizted1]

Starting on the clean up crew already. Lol

[Ashlar]

He wanted to check his myspace page. Didn't have the heart to tell him the pc wasn't on.

[Ashlar]

Ugh. last night I put together a punch down list of all the things that need to get done / bought.

I really depressed myself.

To-do:
-deliver / move tank downstairs
-stencil the room
-run drain and supply lines to back of left cabinet
-left cabinets
--paint cabinets
--install cabinets
--paint doors & drawers
--install countertop
--install sink
--plumb sink
--caulk sink and countertop
-install under-cabinet lights
-install LED rope lights
-mount ro/di
-trim the tank opening
--phase 1: jamb and casing
-start cooking existing rock
-build plywood sandwich between tank and stand, paint edge black, bottom w/ kilz
-place stand in opening & level
-place plywood sandwich
-place tank on stand and level
-place bottom plywood
-install sump
-install skimmer
-install heaters
-plumb tank
-install mp-40s
-fill tank, level, and leak test
-hang electrical cabinet
-wire electrical cabinet
-hang LED lights
-install apex + probes
-install main tank cams
-install refugium
-plumb refugium
-install refugium lighting
-install microscope cams
-install humidistat
-install bathroom vent fan
-install & plumb water change barrels
-toe kick on right cabinets
-toe kick on left cabinets
-baseboards
-trim the tank opening
--phase 2: front facade
-patch guest room closet ceiling hole
 
To-buy:
-left cabinets
-sink
-faucet
-drain basket & trap
-drain piping
-supply piping
-island air vent
-cables:
--10' vga cable
--3 2' USB cables
--3 4' USB cables
--2 cat5 keystone jack
--3 2' cat5 cables
-under counter lighting
-LED rope light for above cabinets
-water change barrels
--bulkheads
--supply piping
-ceiling fan or light fixture
-office stool for microscope work
-sump
-skimmer
-heaters
-biopellet reactor
-return pump
--manifold components
--return bulkhead
--loc-line
-drain items
--4 x bulkheads
--durso components x 2 (open drain on the 'emergency' pipes)
--pipe
--pipe clamps / hangers
-refugium
--refugium lighting
--refugium plumbing components
-electrical panel components
--18" tall x 30" wide cabinet?
-UPS batteries
-egg crate for temporary tank bottom protection
-dowels for aquascaping
-sand for fuge
-sand for main tank?
-additional rock?
-additional lighting for main tank (MH or more LED)
-closet maid heavy duting shelving and braces for light rack
-40g breeder for fish qt + HOB filter
-bathroom ceiling exhaust fan + piping + outside vent
-humidistat

[Twizted1]

Don't be depressed. You may have a lot to do/buy, but it's going to be awsome.

[Boonjob]

HAHA! I used to do this with all my hobbies... I don't even think about it anymore....

Word to the wise, always burn your list afterwards... NEVER let the wife find/see it! lol

[Ashlar]

Oh she knows, she added a few things I'd overlooked. We went into this with eyes wide open.

As I said in the first post, this will be a slow build.

[chromiumlux]

Oh she knows, she added a few things I'd overlooked. We went into this with eyes wide open.

As I said in the first post, this will be a slow build.

It is always good to see the spouses getting involved! Following along.

[Ashlar]

Before the left cabinets go in, I'm going to run the plumbing to where the sink will be. Luckily, I have a bathroom one room down on the same side of the house, so it's just a matter of running drain and supply lines.



I cut some holes in the wall in the bedroom between the fish room and the bathroom, and found exactly where the existing pipes are. I continued cutting that drywall out around the room to the wall behind where the sink will be, making sure I had 1/4" drop per horizontal foot of run. Rather than go old school with copper and a torch, I'll pop on some copper to CPVC fittings, which will make the supply runs much easier. Under the sink I'll run a p-trap and a studor vent.





I then got the 2.5" drain holes cut- I still need to mark and drill the supply line holes above these holes.



Luckily my wife wants wainscotting in that bedroom, that'll save me from having to patch up the holes to a finished quality.

[Myreef55]

Must have not been any easy basement access? Good thing for wains coating, Im not dry wall finisher myself.

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